Golfer&#39;s indoor practice tee



April zo, 1926. 1,581,402

E. L. PENFRASE GOLFERS INDOOR FRACTICE TEE Filed Sept 1, 1921 2 Sheets-snee*v 1 S 2 /f//A/ f/f//A/f I .Il I. .l1

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E. L. PENFRASE GOLFERS INDOOR PRACTICE TEE Filed Sept. l,

EdWa/rJl/.Pen/ ra/sey' April 2 0 1926.

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Patented i Apr. 20, 1925.

Unirse STATES PATENT orifice.y

EDWARD L. Pnnrnasn, or CHICAGO, rumors.

" f GoLnnns Innoon PRACTICE TEE.

Application led September 1, 1921. Serial No. 497,569;

This invention relates to apparatus ordevices for practicing golf strokes in rooms, yards or other confined or convenient places, and has for one object toiniprove generally the simplicity and lefficiency of such devices and to provde a device or apparatus of tliis kind which will accurately rrecord thev effect oi a stroke made upon a captive golf ball.

To this end l have provided, briefly stated,

a slidable goltball-carrying rider adapted to strike a suitable impact member, and means for measuring or recording movement of said member when thus struck.

Another object ot' the invention is to provide an apparatus or device of this kind iii which noise is reduced to a minimum and durability of the device increased.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described; the invention is not limited to these7 since inany and various changes may be made without departing from the scope ot the invention as claimed.

In the ac-coinpaning drawing, showing by way of example one ot many possible einbodinientsol:l the invention.V

' Fig. l is a side elevation ofthe golfers indoor practice tee;

Fig. 2 is a plan ot' they same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the practice tee taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l looking in the direction ofthe arrow; f

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the practice tee taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l looking in the direction or" tliearrow of said line;

Fig. 5 is a. similar view ofthe practice tce taken at the instant of a blow;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view', partly inelevation; of the practice tee, in normal position;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the rider taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5; f

Fig. S is a side elevation of the" rider;

`with adowiiward projec -V the rider.

Fig. 9 is a. iragmental planvof the record -ing device iii normal position; and

I Fig. l0 is aplan oiE the recordingidevice in recording or registering position.'

The various part-s or' my practice tee are niountedon a fra-ine or foundation comprising an elongated hase board or plate l() carf rying a pair of parallel bar members ll and 'l2 VYmounted on opposite sides oi said board thereby to forni va parallel channel 13 between ,said members; a rear cross piece 14 mounted on the rear vor tee-end of said board and closing the rea-r end of said channel, land a Vlforward plate l5 mounted on the forward ends oi said vboard and bar members and partially closing the forward end of said channel and-provided with a U-sliaped guide-rodieceiving-opeiiing i6 (Fig. 5).

' guide rod 2O disposed in said channel with its forward end adapted for reception said ll-shaped' opening has its rear end providedwith a pivot cap 2l fast thereon and disposed aoovea pivot lug mounted on said board in the rear end of said cliaii'- nel 13. Said cap 2l is provided with a horizontal transverse bore receiving a pivot bolt pivotally carrying links 25 pivoted to a lower bolt 26 carried` in said lug 22.

A spring 'Q8 strained between said rear.

oi said lug normally yieldably holds said rod slightly raised upon saidbolt 24 as a pivot; as sliowiiin Fig. 6.

A sleeve-shaped rider or tee carrierBl is slidably carried yon said rod and provided tion and an npstanding vbracket Ellis ing av rearwardly opening 'coiicaved ball-irrying recess (Fig.` 8) ot a Vradins slightly greater than lthe radius oi"- the goli liallt. A screw receiving opening disposed axially ci said recess 35 substantially parallel to said rod carries a -screw 39 passing throughv said screw opening into said ball' tohold the latter in place. A limiting collar 40 Vfast on said rod forward ot said compression spring 29 limits the rearward movement of A pair of parallel guide 'carrying brackets 42 `(Fig. 7) disposed in lower lateral recessesy 43 of said bar members are provided with upstanding inner webs 44 parallel tothe axis of said board at the rear position of said rider and each loosely carrying a pair of inwardly vpointing sci'ews l5 secured in *and supporting a pair of positioning guides 46 spaced apart-and yieldabiy disposed about midway between said webs and having divergent forward ends 48 (Fig. 2) for engaging said downward projection 33 on rearward movement oit' the rider, for positioning said rider with the upstanding bracket 811; standing vertical., Springs a9 compressed between said webs 44 and the adjacent guide 416 yieldably hold the guides in place.

A retaining collar (Fig. 6) fast on the forward end of said rod 2O is engaged by a spiral impact springl carried on the rod 2() and having its rear end engaged by a collar member 52 provided with a downward vextension 53 adapted for engagement with said board l0 to limit downward movement of the forward end of the rod. A cushion collar 55 of rubber or other suitable material disposed on said rod and engaging the rear face of said impact collar member receives the impact of said rider 32 when it is thrown forward under the influence of a blow by a golf club upon the rear face of the ball 36.

A metallic plate 60 (Fig. 2) is disposed over and covers a forward recess 6l (F ig. Ll)

in the bar member l2 and is provided with a narrow longitudinal slot 62 (Fig. 2) and a scale 63 along said slot calibrated to an arbitrary scale or, for instance, to indicate distances of trajectory of golf balls. A recording slide member 65 (Fig. l0) slidable fiat on the bottom of said forward recess 6l is provided with an inward projection 66, for engagement by the collar member 52, and with a longitudinal-slot 67 and a ratchettoothed edge 68 both extending substantially throughout the length of the slide member. An upwardlypand inwardly turned indicator TO on said slide member projects through said narrow slot 62 (Fig. 2) and is disposed over said scale 63.

A pair of screws 73 mounted in the bottom of said forward recess 6l (Fig. l0) are received in said longitudinal slot 6T of the recording slide member for guiding the latter in forward longitudinal movement against the action of a tension spring 74 tensioned between the rear end ofsaid slide member 65 and the rear part of said forward recess 61 for yieldably holding the slide member in rearward movement. A pawl 75 pivoted in a lateral extension 7 6 of the forward recess 61 is held yieldably engaged with said toothed edge 68 as by the spring 78, and is provided with a projecting handle 8O whereby the slide member may be released.

r[he operation of the apparatus is very simple. The apparatus is placed upon the ioor7 ground or the like, the rider moved to rearmost position, and the slide member (Fig. l0) released by movement of the pawl 75. rl`he ball 236 is then struck on its rear face with a golf club and the rider is thrown along the rod until it strikes the cushion collar and moves t-lie impact collar 52 against the action of the spring 5l,

until the reaction of the spring brings the rider to rest'after the impact collar has moved a distance depending upon the speed of the blow of the rider. its the impact moves this distance, it 4engages the projection 66 and moves the indicator TO a corto one side of the center, the rider will tend to lean to one side and the bracket 231i will engage one of the bar members ll or l2 and retard travel of the ball and cause it to record little or nothing at the scale 63. he springs 28 and 29, the rod and links 25 are so constructed that the rod is normally positioned (Fig. 6) so that a properly positioned stroke is most effective; and

in general, the indicator will record most' when the ball is struck Iin such manner as would send to greatest distances a free ball in actual play on an open green. rEhe scale 63 may, if desired, be so calibrated as to indicate such distances. ln the drawing these units of distance are arbitrarily chosen.

lil/bile in the drawing7 the device is shown very compact, and the forward recess extends as far rearward as the collar 40, there is no reason, except the desire for compactness, for making the rod 20 less than, for instance, 5 or 6 times the length of this recess.

l claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a yieldably mounted guide rod; a rider slidable the 1con and having an upstanding bracket carrying a golf ball; a yieldably mounted impact member at the forward end of the rod adapted. to be struck by said rider; means for recording the amount of impact movement of said member; and means for resetting the recording` means.

2. In, combination, a base board; side bai' members mounted thereon forming a channel; a pivot lug mounted on said board inV the rear end of said Channel; a guide rod disposed in said channel with its rea-r end provided with a pivot cap fast thereon and disposed above said lug and provided with a horizontal transverse bore; 'a lower bolt carried in said lug; a pivot `bolt in said bore; links pivotally carried on said bolt and p-ivoted to said lowenbolt;V a spring strained between the rear of said board and said pivot cap for yieldably drawingthe rod rearwardly; a spring positioning lug mounted on said board just forward of said lug; a spring on the positioning lug and engaging said rod for yieldably holding said rod slightly raised upon said pivot boat as a pivot; a limiting collar' fast on said rod yforward of said compression spring for limiting the rearward movement of the rider; a rider on said rod adapted to be struck by blows and moved; and means for indicating variations in the force ofY the blows. Y

3. In combination, a yieldably mounted guide rod; a sleeve shaped rider or carrier lidably carried on said rod and provid ed with an upstanding bracket having a rearwardly opening concaved ball carrying recess` of a radius slightly greater than the golf ball radius having a screwr receiving opening disposed axially of said recess and substantially parallel to said rod; a golf ball held in said recess; a screw passing through said` screw opening into said ball and holdingl the latter in place; ya yieldably mounted impact member at the forward end of the rod adapted tobe-struck by said rider; and mean-s for recording the amount of impact movement of said member.

l. In combination,` an elongated .base board or plate; a. pair of parallel bar members mounted on opposite sides of said board thereby to form a parallel channel between said members; a yieldably mounted guide rod in said channel; a rider slidable thereon and having anvupstanding bracket carrying a golf ball and provided with a downward projection; a pair of parallel" guide carrying brackets disposed in said lower lateralrecesses and provided with upstanding inner webs parallel tothe axis of said board at the rear position of said rider; a pair. of positioning guides held spaced apart and disposed midway between said webs and having divergent forward `ends for engaging said downward projection, on rearward movement of the rider, for positioning said rider with the upstandling bracket standing vertical; a pair of in- `wardly pointing screws loosely carried by each web and secured to said guides; and springs compressed between said web and the adjacent guide for yieldably holding the guides in place.

5. In combination, a yieldably mounted guide rod; a riderI slidable thereon and having an upstanding bracket carrying a golf ball; a retaining collar fast on the forward end of said rod; a spiral spring on said rod and engaging said collar; an impact collar member slidable on said rod and en-y gaging the rear end of said impact spring and provided with a downward extension adapted to limit downward movement ofv the forward end of the rod; a cushion collar on said rod and engagingr the rear face of said impact collar member for receiv ing the impact of said rider when it is thrown forward under the inliuence of a blowV by a golf club upon the rearv'facc of said ball; kand means kfor recording the amount of impact movement of said impact member. Y I

6. In combination; a slidable golf-ball carrying-rider; anV impact member adapted to be struck by said rider; a plate provided with a scale calibrated to indicate distances of trajectory of golf balls; and va yieldablc recording slide memberv provided with an inward projection engageable by said impact member, said slide member having an indicator disposed over and adjacent said scale whereby to directly indicate the dise tance of trajectory of the ball struck.

7.111 combination, an elongated base.

board ork plate; apair of parallel bar members mounted on opposite sides of said board thereby to form ya parallel channel between vwith a toothed edge extending throughout its length, and with an upwardly and inwardly turned indicator projecting through said narrow slot and kdisposed over said scale; a tension spring tensioned between the rear end of said slide member and the rear partof said recess; and a pawl pivoted in .said recess and yieldablyl held engaged i v with said teeth and provided Awith a projectinghandle whereby the slide member maybe released.V

8. In combination7 an elongated base board or plate; a pair of parallel bar members mounted on opposite sides of said board thereby to form a parallel channel betweenlsaid members; a'rear cross piece mounted on the rear or tee end of said board enclosing the rear end of said channel; a forward plate mounted on the forward ends of said board and bar members, and partially closingl the forward or'light end of said board and provided with .a U-shaped guide rod-receiving-openingi; a. yieldably mounted guide rod in said'ehannel and having its forward end in said opening; a rider slidable thereon and having an upstanding bracket carrying a golf ball; a yieldably f mounted impact 'member at the forward end of the rod adapted to be struck by said rider; and VVmeans mounted in the forward end of'one of said bar members for receiving the amount ot impact movement of said member.

9. ln combination, a rider having a con caved recess; a ball secured in said recess and having a radius less than the radius ot concavity or' the recess whereby to vpresent the large part of theI surface thereof to the player and adapted to be struck by blows and moved to indicate Variations in the force of the blows.

l0. ln combination, a base; a guide rod yieldably mounted on the base longitudinally thereof; and a rider slidable on the rod and carrying aball.

1l. In combination, a base, a guide movably mounted on said base; a rider slidable on the guide and carrying` a blow receiving part; and measuring moans movable by said rider.

l2. In combination. a baser, a guide rod having one end yieldably mounted on said base and the. other end loosely mounted; a rider slidable on theprod and carrying a blow receiving part; and measuring means movable by said rider.

13. ln combination, a base, a slidable guide rod mounted on said base; a rider slidable on the rod; and a soring connected to said base and yieldably drawing the rod rearwardly.

A. In combination, a longitudinally yieldably mounted guide rod; links partly supporting the rod; and a rider slidable on the 17o-:l and measuring means actuated by theV and impact measuring` means movable by said rider. Y

16. ln combination, a guide rod; a rider slidable onthe rod and carrying a ball; an impact member slidably mounted on the forward end ot the rod adapted to be struck by said rider; a spring on the rod holding the member rearwardly; and a measuring memler movable by said, impact member.

17. ln combination, a guide rod; a rider slidable on the rod; an impact member mounted on the rod adapted to be struck by said rider and measuring means engageable by said rider and actuated by the travel of said rider.

lS. ln combination, a guide rod; a rider slidable onthe rod; a toothed ratchet member-movable by said rider; yieldable means holding the ratchet member retracted; and a releasable pawl engaging the teeth of the ratchet member. i

19. In combination, a guide; and ay rider slidable on the guide carrying a blow receiving member having its entirel rear face unobstructed for the blow. y

20. In combination, a guide; and a rider slidable thereon carrying a ball having its entire rear hemisphere exposed.

EDWARD L. rnnnnasn. 

